Mumukshuppadi Sarartha Deepikai

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Sutra:
71. maNaththaiyum oLiyaiyum koNdu pUvaiyum rathnaththaiyum virumbumApOlE sEshamenRu AthmAvai AtharikkiRathu; allAtha pOthu "uyirinAR kuRaivilam" enkiRapadiyE thyAjyam; athu thOnRa sEshathvaththais sollip pinnai AthmAvai sollukiRathu.

Meaning:
The flower is liked because of its fragrance and the precious stone is liked because of its brilliant shine. Similarly the Atma is liked because of the fact that it is enslaved to the Lord. If the Atma is not enslaved to Him, then it is to be given up. This is per Nammazhvar's pasuram "thadam punala sadaimudiyan thaniyoru kURamarnthu uRaiyum udambudaiyAn kavarAtha uyirinAl kuRaivilamE".

Sri PBA Swami's Sarartha Deepikai:
In explaining something, the correct order is to show the nature of the being first and then talk about its dharma. If that is the case, then in the praNavam, it is the Atma that should have come first and its quality which is sEshatvam should have come after. So, why does the praNavam have the ukAram first and then the makAram?

The reason is as follows. In this world, we see that it is due to the fragrance that a flower is liked and it is due to its brilliant light that a precious stone is liked. In the same fashion, it is out of the quality of seshatvam that a soul is liked. If a soul does not possess that wealth, then it is to be discarded.

What is the pramANam for this?

The answer is Nammazhvar's pasuram: "thadam punala sadaimudiyan thaniyoru kURamarnthu uRaiyum udambudaiyAn kavarAtha uyirinAl kuRaivilamE" (Thiruvaymozhi 4-8-10). The essence of this pasuram is that that soul which is not attached to Him should be discarded. Alavandar too says the same in his Stotraratnam.

Therefore, to emphasize the importance of sEshatvam which is spoken about this way by our acharyas who are knowledge incarnate, sEshatvam is placed ahead and Atma is placed after in the prAnavam.

Pillai Lokacharyar Thiruvadigale Saranam
Azhvar Emperumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam

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